Re: requesting recommendations for monochrome duplex wired network laser printer

On Fri, 2016-06-03 at 23:31 -0700, Joel - DSLExtreme wrote:
> Darlene,
> On Friday, June 03, 2016 21:05:04 Michael Eager wrote:
> > On 06/03/2016 06:44 PM, Darlene Wallach wrote:
> > > Michael,
> > > 
> > >> 
> > >> In your DHCP server (often a router) set the options to always assign the
> > >> same IP address to the printer.
> > > 
> > > I do not have a router though I do use a hub. DSL Extreme is my ISP.
> > 
> > Something is responding to DHCP requests, most likely the DSL modem.  There
> > should be similar configuration options.
> > 
> Possibly the modem is a combined modem/router. But you may have DHCP service 
> from the ISP. I have that type of service from DSLExtreme. They provide me up 
> to 5 addresses. If you are connecting only through a hub, which is possible, 
> then you could be putting your printer directly on the public Internet. 
> Besides making it difficult to access your own printer, it could allow strangers 
> to access it as well. I will resist the urge to repeat the scary stories I've 
> heard about security flaws in printer firmware. If you don't have a private 
> network, I strongly urge you find a router to use for your own devices. I've 
> found adequate ones offered for free on the local freecycle list, and for a few 
> dollars at the flea market.

Joel, when Darlene signed up with DSLExtreme, they supplied her with a
Westell Wirespeed 2100 that was defective from the factory. They then
refused to acknowledge there was anything wrong with the device and
consequently refused to accept it back nor replace it. So, she simply
stuffed it away somewhere and deployed in its place a used device of
some sort that someone gave her. I do not know whether this unidentified
donated replacement device has router capabilities, but I suspect that
even if it does, they may be deactivated, i.e. "bridge mode,"
considering that she is reportedly still using the 10Base-T hub that
used to sit behind the failed Westell bridge modem. I am going to
refrain from explicitly saying here the implications of this with regard
to the printer.

My other DSLExtreme rant:
http://linuxmafia.com/pipermail/sf-lug/2015q1/010976.html

That said, they are nevertheless the most cost-effective ISP for certain
use cases. However, I question whether Darlene's is still one of them.